Swinging support



July 24, 1951 E. w. DOTTEN 2,562,021

SWINGING SUPPORT Filed July 26, 1945 Patented July 24, 1951 f VUNITED sTArlis PATENT, Ajo'FFlcla:

y :2.5623551 p SWIN'GING SUPPORT Earl W. Datum,l Cromwell, Minn. Application July. ze, 1945,' serial No.' 607,229

This invention relates to a support especiallyf'i adapted for use upon a roadside in supporting a rural mail box, sign or the like, the same also being quite practical for use at railway intersections with highways as a sign support.

I am aware that several patents have been issued upon somewhat similar supports having certain individual objects in view, but the instant major problem deemed here solved is that of a novel combination of cooperative parts for accomplishing the optimum results sought in a swinging support as herein described.

The simplicity of the few parts involved is an object sought.

The accessibility to all of the movable and adjustable parts at all times is another object.

While the upright supporting standard or post as well as the horizontally extending swingable sign and/or receptacle holding arm are old in the art, yet the instant specic means for accomplishment of the cooperative union and action of same are considered a material improvement.

Strength of the arm activating spring being Variable to accommodate varying wind conditions in respect to different locations where such supports are placed is deemed a material improvement.

Still another object is that of providing simple means at the outer extremity of the receptacle or sign carrying arm to cushion the shock of engagement of same with objects traversing the highway such as snow plows, graders, or the like for which such yieldable supports are required to accommodate.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of one of the supports as it would appear with the swingable arm extending over the highway.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the outer free end of the swingable arm.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the arm y port upon the .outermost end thereof a signgmail box, or both las preferred.

This arm 3 is supported upon the standard I as by the somewhat L-shaped bracket 4 being cylindrical in form at 5 for both vertically slidable action upon the standard I and swingable thereabout, while the right angular extension 6 of said bracket is'also of cylindrical form for the reception of the tubular arm 3 held therein as by suitable set screws I--Ii or their equivalent.

A somewhat similarly shaped bracket for support of the flat metal spring 'I upon the standard I comprises the cylindrical portion 8 for adjustment about the standard for proper positioning of the arln 3 in respect to the roadway and which may be held thereabouts by one or more setscrews as indicated at 9.

The other integral portion III of this bracket is of flat outwardly tapered form and having a properly shaped socket therein for receiving the holding end of flat, but preferably slightly tapered leaf spring 'I which is shown as removably held therein as by the screw or bolt I I. The fingered collar I2 carried upon the arm 3 and slidably adjustable thereupon has formed integral therewith the spaced lingers I3--I3 for straddling the free end of the spring l, and it is apparent that the spring is normally held stationary by its holding bracket 8-I, while the arm 3 may be swung either way horizontally about the standard should occasion arise for such.

However, it is to be seen that the arm 3, when swung in either direction must rst automatically raise slightly due to the provision of the toothlike projection indicated at I4 on the upper bearing face of the cylindrical portion 3 of the spring supporting bracket, there also being a registerable notch in the lower face of the cylinder 5 of the bracket 4. This expedient, obviously, being for the purpose of biasing the arln 3 toward its normal predetermined central position, and which is quote old in the art.

As cushioning means for the outer free end of the arm in the event of its being dangerously engaged by a snow plow grader or the like, I have provided a second leaf spring indicated at I5 with its supporting end I6 preferably wrought into round form for holding engagement within the otherwise open end of the arm 3 so as to firmly hold the flattened bowed portion substantially as shown for guarding engagement against a thrust of any sort without abuse to the box or sign supported upon said arm.

Doubtless, under ordinary circumstances, only one of such cushioning devices would be advan- 3 tageous, due to the fact that all passing traflic upon the highway in the path of such support is in the same direction.

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A two part separable bracket of the type described the lower member being xable to an upright standard and the upper member being rotatable thereon for swingable support of arcadside object carrying arm; characterized by said members having like radially extending vsocket portions normally vertically aligned upon said standard, the uppermost one for the reception of the butt end of said arm, and the lowermost one for the reception of one end of a biasing .spring member the opposite end of which is adjustably attached to said arm whereby the latter is normally biased in serving position transverse said road.

EARL W. DOTTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 963,329 Shank July 5, 1910 1,004,476 Schultz Sept. 26, 1911 1,273,696 Vanhoof July 23, 1918 1,292,421 Bickel Jan. 28, 1919 1,435,379 Connery Nov. 14, 1922 1,440,043 Wright Dec. 26, 1922 1,460,054 Davis June 26, 1923 1,595,206 McIntosh Aug. 10, 1926 1,645,768 Morten, Jr Oct. 18, 1927 1,790,123 Trimmer Jan. 27, 1931 

